Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-07-22
On the Brink
BY HARRIET \. cHEEvEg.

for this occasion. | know his charges
are frightlui. but then YOU are dong so
well. and In 5, after all, will be the first
large party we ever have given. Bow
ers will attent to the floral decorations,
and the Mendelssohn orchestra will
furnish such delectable music 1t will
be just splendid. know. and please
cant have dress made at Crash's
just this once ?''
A par of lustrous brown eyes were
raised with langud grace to John
Chisholm's face as the grlish. ram bling
speech ended with its beseeching quer-
ry. 1t was altogether bewitching
face which John gazed upon as his
young wife turned towards him. lie
had never been able TO resist the pow
er of her beauty. never since he had
met her five years before-a sweet,
dainty girl of eighteen years
She had now been his wife for four
years. and not one whit less charming
had She grown in his eyes since the day
he brought her, lovely bride, to their
handsome new house in the city. And
TO the fond husbands mind there seem
ed always to dwell in the depths of his
wlfe's luminous eyes an expression
recognized only by himself An ex-
preston causing a vague conviction
that away down beneath the pleasing
softness of their bright CLEAN there
was hidden an undercurrent of power,
of womanly strength, which might
manifest itself upon occasion.
For any one unfortunate enough To
have lost both parents while a mere
child. Helen Chisholm had yet been a
very fortunate person. Rather an in
congruouS observation as first viewed
but true enough when understood. For
when the Little Helen had met her uu-
recognized loss an induigent old grand
father had taken her to his comfortable
home, and W tn a motherly housekeeper
10 pet and care for her, the little girl
had budded into maidenhood and
blossomed into early womanhood with
out having known serious anxiety or
being brought face to face with any of
the sterncr lessons of life.
Then John Chisholm had come to the
village one day, and although other adj
mirers had tried without success to
win the favor of the beautiful girl,
there was that about this tine-looking
gentleman with his grave, kindly face
and ten years of superior age, which
had speedily attracted the lower-like
Helen And so conquest had been
easy enough for john Chisholm where
it had been impossible for younger and
perhaps Weather lovers.
For Mr.. Chisholm was not rich, al
though on marry ne he found himself
able 10 provide n coy, inviting home
be could fondly call his own, and with
in he happily established fair young
mistress whose graceful person and
winsome manners soon rendered her a
great favorAe in the gay get refined
circle into which her husband had
proudly introduced her. And perhaps
it was not strange that the flattering
attract ons lavished upon her should
have resulted in desire TO plunge
deeply into the fascinating and
expensive pleasures OF her new as
sociates.
Two years after her marriage Mrs.
Chisholm's grandfather had died and
the little property left was divided be-
tween two surviving sons. But the
salary received from the monied cor
poration of which Mr. Chisholm was
the trusted treasurer, ought TO have
proved sufficient for more than merely
comfortable living.
Yes the salary ought to have proved
ample income for family of two per-
sons or even three times that number,
but alas. for the exactions OF fashiona-
bic life in the city!
Had any one ever limited to John
Chisholm in Ii 5 bachelor days. that
even IN ghty love for the woman that
he IN ght call his lie could tempt him
for moment beyond the bounds of
strictcst prudence and integrity. he
would have laughed the uni kelly idea
10 SCOl lpib ilAAit W llANlt ut hst'l
unwisely yielded to his wfe's ambition
to vic with the customs and habits Of
those far better off than themselves,
and the snare was one so easily fallen
into that threatened ENHANCEMENT
crept on with swift though silent foot
steps.
Nor were his wife's expensive pro-
clvites the only troublesome ones in
his way Before his marriage it had
been a matter of pride with Mr.. CHS
holm being considered one of the most
genial, open-handed members of the
popular club TO which he belonged.
Distinguished Wis tors to the metropo-
lis rarely failed to sit at right royal
banquet given in their honor by his